Avoid being ripped off at your wedding

Avoid being ripped off at your wedding

by | Jun 18, 2013 | Blog

Of course, weddings are an income opportunity. There are a lot of suppliers out there who know that expense is often of (virtually) no concern when it comes to arranging a perfect wedding. Their integrity may not always be of the highest. You need to watch out.

Weddings can cost as much as £20,000, depending on what you have in mind.

With thanks to www.neliprahova.com

If you use a wedding planner, they should let you know from the start what you will be getting for your money; you pay for the service, but you should get peace of mind. It’s often cheaper to do it yourself piecemeal, but then it’s rather harder to keep tabs.

Whatever you choose, it pays to keep your wits about you, and avoid being ‘done’.

Deposits

Because, by its nature, a wedding is usually planned over months, deposits may have to be paid up front. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, do your homework on the supplier before parting with your cash. Do you have any evidence that they are trustworthy? It’s not unknown for companies to take the money and run. Testimonials, while not foolproof, may give you a pointer. Also, how long has the company been trading? If it’s well-established, it probably won’t drop you and run.

Contracts

It does pay to read anything through before you sign (but how many of us do?!) If you’re dealing with a reputable trader, as suggested in the paragraph above, you probably won’t get ripped off. However, it’s no good claiming that you were “unaware” of deadlines, cancellation penalties etc. You must feel happy about the Ts & Cs BEFORE you sign. (If you really can’t handle it, get someone with some legal knowledge to help you be clear what you’re agreeing to.)

The wedding car

More of the same, really. You must look for a reputable company that deals with weddings as a matter of course. If you can get personal recommendations, then follow these. If not, it may pay to visit the limousine company before you make up your mind. At least, that way you’ll know they do exist and probably won’t leave you waiting at the kerb!

With thanks to www.neliprahova.com

Wedding dresses

There are myriad sites on the internet which cater for brides-to-be (and their retinue). Will you be getting quality? Is that discounted dress actually going to look so good on the day? Again, you need to try and be sure that the company is reliable and bona fide. It may be worth dealing with known retailers (even though that peace of mind could work out quite expensive).

The photographer

With thanks to www.neliprahova.com

I have already dealt with this issue to some extent in other blogs, such as:

https://vowsthatwow.co.uk/?p=763 and in Neli Prahova’s blogs for me https://vowsthatwow.co.uk/?p=786 and https://vowsthatwow.co.uk/?p=794

However, let me summarise: you are taking a risk if you get your best friend to take the photos – for such a big event, you want a professional. Before deciding, visit them and look at examples of their work and try and get testimonials for them.

Other ‘vital’ expenses

There are a host of other items that you might decide are worth paying for. Flowers, invitations, cake, decorations, entertainment etc. are all quite normal. Prices for these can be inflated, so it is often good to shop around and compare quotes.

Sometimes, a ‘wedding’ cake will cost much more than a grand alternative that will do every bit as well. Flowers may be cheaper if they are in season at the time. Arrange a wedding in winter. Catering a morning wedding may work out considerably cheaper too. Be creative!

Obviously, what I’m suggesting here may take time to research, so don’t leave your investigations too long. However, a bit of hard work like this may well pay dividends later. Not only could you save money, but, more important, you could ensure a perfect day.

Michael Gordon can help prepare and conduct a tailor-made civil ceremony in or around London or, indeed, in Europe.

“Say cheese!” – Wedding Photography

“Say cheese!” – Wedding Photography

by | May 17, 2013 | Blog

Apart from taking photographs for fun, I make no claim to be a photographer – certainly not for weddings. However, as a celebrant, I work with professional photographers, and so offer a few suggestions. Some of these may help you choose wisely, and also help the wedding photography go successfully.

Choosing a photographer

  1. Have a look at the photographer’s previous work. That’s pretty obvious! You might well look for photos showing relaxed couples/guests, pictures which tell a story or which are beautifully framed.
  2. You should meet the photographer and assess how professional they seem to be. They should have a checklist of preferred photos and be able to answer your questions. They need to convince you that they are well-organised and capable.
  3. You want to strike up a rapport with the photographer. If you don’t really like one, there’s no need to choose them. There are plenty of other fish in the sea.
  4. Don’t necessarily go by cost. Of course, you will have a budget, but the photographs are such a vital part of the event that you should give the job to the best person.
  5. If you are choosing another photographer (or videographer) too, it is courteous (and possibly, diplomatic!) to inform them of this fact before the ceremony. They will need to co-operate, not compete!
  6. You are paying the photographer, so you can request certain pictures. However, be prepared to listen to their advice – they should know best!

Tips for the actual photographs

  1. Allow time for the photographs. That may require up to an hour before the ceremony, and at least half an hour following the ceremony. The organisation (who will be in each photo? where will they stand/sit?) is down to the photographer, but you can help beforehand by deciding the groupings you actually want. A good Best Man will be able to organise and expedite this.
  2. It may be worth having somewhere indoors available for photographs, in case the weather refuses to play the game.
  3. If the session is likely to last long and you have invited children, it may be worth having something on tap to entertain them. A magician is always popular (with adults too!), although another item to incorporate in the budget.

Don’t underestimate the importance of wedding photography for a valuable physical record of the day (and, though people’s i-phone cameras may take some lovely shots, it’s best to depend on professionals). Hopefully, this advice will help you choose well and get the very best out of the day.

With acknowledgement to www.neliprahova.com for the picture.

Michael Gordon is a celebrant based in London.